The people-watching is as good as the Italian at this Rice Village hot spot, where fans congregate over authentic, thin crust pizzas topped with black truffle cream, blistered tomatoes, and fontina. Second to the popular pizzas are starters like truffle cheesebread, arugula and tomato salad, and seafood, veal and pasta dishes. The patio is packed year-round; inside, the navy velvet stools at the large bar are filled with diners happy to wait to be seated in the modern, charcoal-gray walled dining room where they can watch dough being made in the expansive exposed kitchen. Like all concepts from local chef Charles Cooper, wine here is marked close to retail, making the atmosphere lively from day 'til night.

Coppa Osteria

The people-watching is as good as the Italian at this Rice Village hot spot, where fans congregate over authentic, thin crust pizzas topped with black truffle cream, blistered tomatoes, and fontina. Second to the popular pizzas are starters like truffle cheesebread, arugula and tomato salad, and seafood, veal and pasta dishes. The patio is packed year-round; inside, the navy velvet stools at the large bar are filled with diners happy to wait to be seated in the modern, charcoal-gray walled dining room where they can watch dough being made in the expansive exposed kitchen. Like all concepts from local chef Charles Cooper, wine here is marked close to retail, making the atmosphere lively from day 'til night.